How to dry Roses
There are many reasons why you might want to dry your roses:
Many people want to keep a memento of a special moment, perhaps
from a wedding they went to, a special holiday or maybe the
flowers were a gift from a mate, a friend, or family member.
Whatever your reasons for doing it, this is the section where
you will learn to dry your roses properly. There two ways that
you can dry your roses that are a cheap and relatively easy.
Air Drying
Air drying is by far the easiest and most inexpensive method of
drying flowers, including roses. It is easy to do; all you have
to do is follow these simple instructions.
Whenever I receive roses as a gift, I dry them to prolong my
enjoyment of them. I have used them to create dried
arrangements, potpourri, and many times have added them to
centerpiece arrangements.
Supplies:
Roses (tend to dry darker than original color)
Twine
Hairspray (optional)
Arrange your roses in a vase with water and floral preservative,
as you would with a regular arrangement. Allow roses to
partially open, remove them from the vase, tie a string around
the bottom of the stems and hang the bunch upside down in a dry
place (such as an attic or garage).
Depending on humidity levels, it will take about two weeks for
the roses to completely dry. Test for dryness by gently
squeezing a bud and if it is soft to the touch, you will need to
give it more time.
When the flowers/buds are firm, untie them, spray with hairspray
to prevent crumbling, and arrange as desired.
Sand Drying
1. Start by picking the roses that are in perfect condition.
They shouldn't have any dew on them and the stems should be dry
as well.
2. You can reinforce the stems and blossom with either white
glue or florist wire.
3. For florist wire, you will want to cut off most of the stem.
Leave about one inch of stem.
4. Push about 3 inches of wire through the stem and right
through the flower head.
5. Next, you want to bend the end of the wire into a hook over
each rose head and pull it down. This helps to keep the head
secured to the stem.
6. When choosing to use the glue, begin by diluting the glue in
a dab of water.
7. You will take a toothpick and dab a thin coat of the glue
mixture at the base of each petal.
8. Next, you will work the glue into the base of the stems of
each flower so that you can attach each petal to the base, wait
till the glue dries completely.
9. Now for the sand, slowly and carefully cover the flowers with
sand in deep open boxes.
10. Make the sand in the box deep enough to hold the flowers
upright.
11. Sit each flower in the sand filled box and slowly pour sand
around the base, around the sides, and over and under the
petals. You should pour the sand evenly so that you can preserve
the flowers natural shape.
12. You will want to wait for the flowers to dry while facing
upright.
13. Put the boxes with the roses in a dry space that is warm and
brightly lit. This will ensure that your roses will maintain
their bright color.
14. Let them dry for one to three weeks.
15. If you want more muted colors, you will want to dry them in
a more humid area.
16. To remove the sand, tip the drying Container slightly so
that the sand can fall off the flowers.
17. Remove each flower one by one.
Now you have successfully learned how to dry your roses so that
they are ready for you to do whatever you'd like with them.
These dried flowers will make great decorations for any room in
your house or office, or whatever else you'd like to do.